Stories from Friday, June 15, 2018

WASHINGTON -- Policymakers increasingly perceive China's growing naval strength in Asia as an acute threat to American interests that must be met with a corresponding surge in U.S. naval power in the Pacific. However, precisely what tangible threat a few more Chinese frigates on the other side of the planet poses to U.S. ...

DEXTER, Mo. -- Alfred Coleman, 92, of Dexter, Missouri passed away Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at the Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He was the son of the late Robert Clint and Georgia W. Russell Coleman and was born in Dexter Jan. 15, 1926...

By MARC A. THIESSEN WASHINGTON -- A few years ago, I was talking with Charles Krauthammer in the Fox News green room when the news that someone famous had passed away flashed on the television screen. Charles told me the way he hoped to go when his time came. ...

WASHINGTON -- Addressing the "Shangri-la Dialogue," the most important annual conference on security in East Asia, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis described China's increasingly aggressive military posture in the South China Sea as a strategy "of intimidation and coercion."...

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4 There is an "American philosopher" with whom I am very rarely compared. His name is Snoop Dogg. I think you could accurately say we are at opposite ends of the cultural continuum. He is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, television personality and actor, and his philosophies and music are indeed a world away from mine...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- Mary Virginia Derganc, 90, died Thursday, June 14, 2018, at her home near Naylor, Mo. Visitation will be after 6 p.m. Saturday, June 16, at Fowler & Sons Funeral Home. Eastern Star Service will be at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Naylor Memorial Cemetery...

Realizing how often people go without any relational connection in the world, Pastor Greg Gilberto decided to step outside the four walls of the church and reach out to the unchurched. "Something was missing," Gilberto said after realizing how often he frequented drive-thrus for business. "I wondered how convenient it would be if somebody who was unchurched wanted a moment of hope."...

Staff Reports Black River Medical Center said in a statement it has become aware of a potential data security incident that may have resulted in the inadvertent exposure of some patients' personal information. "At this time there is no evidence that patient information was actually accessed or viewed, or any indication that anyone's information was actually misused, Black River Medical Center has taken steps to notify any patients who may have been affected in this incident by sending them letters," the statement said.. ...

FISK,Mo. -- Ferral H. Taylor, 78, of Dudley, Mo., died Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at his residence, in Dudley, Mo. Mr. Taylor was born Wednesday, June 5, 1940 in Risco, Mo., son of the late Chester B. and Helen Marie Taylor. He had lived around Dudley for most of his life and was a lifelong farmer. On June 4, 1966 he married Mary Elizabeth Sadowski. She survives...

Christal Dawn Gaddy Washington, 33, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., unexpectedly passed away Sunday, June 10, 2018 in St. Louis, Mo. She was born May 19, 1985 to Larry Gaddy and JoBeth Chotrow. She is survived by her father Larry Gaddy and her two sons, Isaac Washington and Blake Pirtle...

Staff Reports Poplar Bluff's Juneteenth celebration will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Wheatley School. Activities will begin with a motorcycle show by Charles Blackman and his friends. The official welcome will be given at 1 p.m. by guest speaker Ashlee Roberts Ph.D., who recently earned her doctoral degree at Saint Louis University...

The first meeting of a new city advisory board generated concerns about outdated codes, proposals for bulky trash removal and a request for a new ban on parking in yards. The Poplar Bluff Residential Housing Advisory Board was created to be an idea generator to fix problems in the city, said member Greg West, who was elected as vice chairman and assigned a three-year term when members drew for staggered slots...

QULIN -- A Qulin area toddler missing for more than 12 hours was reunited with her family early Friday morning after she was found lying in a cornfield near her home. Authorities say Remington Nicole Elliott, 3, was reported missing from her home in the 500 block of County Road 243 at about 8 p.m. Thursday...

"Faith? That's the plan? I couldn't find the faith button on my calculator," said Joey McLane, a 30-year member of the United Gospel Rescue Mission Board of Directors. "But we bought the building and I waited for us to fail." Except, he added, failure never came...